The American Declaration of Independence asserts the natural rights of individuals and the responsibility of the people to ensure their government advances the common good. This Fourth of July, we’ll be exploring the Declaration’s very words and global legacy, inviting visitors to tell us how they understand the Declaration’s meaning for today. More

This is Deborah. She grew up at Mount Vernon, enslaved to George Washington. In 1781, when she was 16 years old, Deborah made a decision that changed her life. As the Revolutionary War tore through Virginia, Deborah chose to run away from Mount Vernon in search of freedom with the British Army. More

Celebrate Revolutionary women by experiencing their personal stories. Throughout the Museum, you can see details of women's lives and the contributions they made to either side that made them a part of founding the new country. More

In the middle of the Revolutionary War, New Jersey was a battlefield. Soldiers fought in small skirmished and large battles, shivered in winter quarters, and marched almost everywhere. Civilians supported the cause of liberty or the King, followed the armies, and got by as best they could. We tell some of these stories at the Museum of the American Revolution and we encourage guests to visit nearby historic sites to learn more about what happened in our region. More

In 1906, as Reverend W. Herbert Burk is developing his vision for the Valley Forge Museum of American History, he is also building a small collection that will soon include an iconic treasure: George Washington's Headquarters Tent. More

In 1909, Reverend W. Herbert Burk purchased George Washington's Headquarters Tent from one of Washington's descendants. It was to be the centerpiece of Reverend Burk's Valley Forge Museum of American History, and part of his mission to restore and renew Washington's importance in American hearts. More

The history of Washington's Headquarters Tent doesn't stop at the end of the war. Its journey from Revolutionary battlefields to the Museum's collection is a fascinating story in its own right, and one that touches on key events in American history. As part of The First Oval Office project, our team of historians and curators have been researching this journey. More